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For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2015Sept 18-20, 2015 – Orlando

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Orlando for training, networking, workshops and more!

SPJ News

SPJ Blogs: Newest Posts

Quill Headlines

Journalist's Toolbox

@SPJ_Tweets

Connect with SPJ

SPJ on Facebook

Upcoming Eventsand Deadlines

Become an SPJ Member

For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2015Sept 18-20, 2015 – Orlando

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Orlando for training, networking, workshops and more!

Journalists covering the “Occupy” events and protests around the country have become part of the story in recent weeks due to arrests of and restrictions on journalists for simply doing their jobs. In response, SPJ President John Ensslin has written an editorial explaining why this alarming trend must stop, and why police should exercise greater caution going forward. The editorial below is open for publication.

Alarming Trend of Journalists’ Arrests at ‘Occupy’ Must Stop

By John Ensslin, President Society of Professional Journalists

Across the country, there's been an alarming trend lately of journalists being arrested, detained or restricted from doing their jobs at various "Occupy" demonstrations.

Some were covering the story for mainstream media. Some were freelancers. Others were students.

The details and circumstances of the arrests varied widely, but there was one common denominator: These were journalists doing their job covering a news event of public interest. They were practicing journalism, not civil disobedience.

While it's outrageous to see reporters and photographers being led away in handcuffs for doing their jobs, I am not without some degree of empathy for the police officers who find themselves in the middle of demonstration. It has to do with my background. My brother was a police officer in New Jersey. And for 12 years, I covered the police beat in Denver for the Rocky Mountain News.

During those years, my brother and I would sometimes talk about our respective work. Watching my brother do his job and talking to him about mine taught me a profound respect for the often difficult and chaotic situations in which police officers sometimes find themselves.

But journalists also frequently find themselves dealing with chaotic situations because that's where news happens.

I've covered a few riots. Believe me, they are no fun. I've been tear-gassed. I've been hit in the shoulder with a fist-sized chunk of ice. I narrowly dodged a rock hurled my way. In one instance, a Denver detective came to my rescue at a crime scene where an angry crowd had formed.

So I understand how in the heat of a confusing moment, mistakes are made. I suspect and hope that's what happened to most of the journalists swept up in these recent arrests.

We always encourage ethical journalists and news outlets to own up to mistakes and run a public correction when warranted.

It was in that spirit recently that the Society of Professional Journalists called upon the authorities in the cities where these arrests occurred and asked them to own up to mistakes and drop the charges against these journalists.

We also offered to host a series of public forums where journalists and law enforcement officials can have a frank and candid discussion of what happened in their city.

I'm hoping the mayors and police chiefs in these cities take us up on this offer.

Police and journalists both have jobs to do. However, no one in a democracy is served when reporters and photographers are improperly arrested or otherwise restricted for doing their jobs.